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All iPads best ipad for consumption only (i.e. best screen)? nothing else matters

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jasonfodor

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Original poster
Oct 8, 2012
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will be using it to read books, scroll instagram etc., which literally anything ipad could do.

but i also browse flickr and into photography, so I want a really good screen. Have a macbook pro for photo editing, so I'm not editing, just storing/browsing only. Don't care about anything else (processor speeds, cameras, etc.).

Don't want mini, or 12.9'' (too big).

Obviously the new 12.9'' pro has the best screen, but it'd be a waste for what I'm doing (Browsing photography).

Website I found (socialcompare) says screen resolution and PPI hasn't changed in 5+ years, but I'm sure the dispays got better. Or should I not be using screen resolution/PPI to compare?

Prefer older generation. Trying to keep it under $250 or $300
 
mavis

mavis

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Jul 30, 2007
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At that price range, your options are rather limited. Or maybe it's better to say, your decision becomes really simple! Just get whatever iPad you can afford. The iPad Pros have the best screens, but they're way out of your price range, so yeah - just get what you can afford! ??
 
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scottSE

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Sep 17, 2020
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At that price, I wonder if you can pick up a used 10.5“ iPad Pro (2017) somewhere. That thing had a great screen: True Tone, P3 wide colour (I think), ProMotion.
 
D

Digitalguy

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Apr 15, 2019
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Just don't risk it with the 10.5 (pro or even air 3), too many units with display issues (white spot). The 9.7 pro is probably your best option
 
Mad Mac Maniac

Mad Mac Maniac

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Oct 4, 2007
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A little bit of here and a little bit of there.
I don't mean to be one of those "I know better than you" people, but I don't understand the rationale for the screen quality being the most important factor. You don't need to have an amazing display to view ebooks or instagram photos... And at your price range you won't be able to afford any of the proMotion iPad pro's which have the best displays.

I'm truly curious why you're against the mini. To me that sounds like the perfect size for reading and browsing photos. You can get the iPad mini 5th gen for about $250 now. Or if you truly want bigger than you might be able to find a used 9.7 pro for about $300.

For what it's worth, if I only had $300 to spend on an iPad I'd buy the latest budget iPad just announced. It's display is fine and is overall a fantastic value. List price is $329, but I'm pretty sure I saw it listed for $289 somewhere.
 
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UltimateSyn

UltimateSyn

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scottSE said:
At that price, I wonder if you can pick up a used 10.5“ iPad Pro (2017) somewhere. That thing had a great screen: True Tone, P3 wide colour (I think), ProMotion.
Click to expand...
That was my thought. So OP, if ProMotion (120 Hz) is important to you then you might want to consider a 2017 10.5” iPad Pro. Otherwise, with your budget, I’d recommend just getting the new base model iPad. The screens are great - not as nice as the Pros, but still - and they fit the bill. Anything else used in that price range you’re going to end up making too many other compromises in the device with processor, RAM, age, etc.
 
kristalsoldier

kristalsoldier

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Aug 10, 2013
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Shanghaichica said:
A 10.5 inch iPad Pro. I had one for three years and never developed the white spot issue.
Click to expand...
Well, I had the same and I also did not experience the white spot issue. But buying one now is, in my opinion, not really advisable. If one wants a Pro but not necessarily the newest one even the 2018 version would be a much safer bet (budget allowing, of course).
 
Shanghaichica

Shanghaichica

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Apr 8, 2013
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kristalsoldier said:
Well, I had the same and I also did not experience the white spot issue. But buying one now is, in my opinion, not really advisable. If one wants a Pro but not necessarily the newest one even the 2018 version would be a much safer bet (budget allowing, of course).
Click to expand...
I’m just going off the OP’s budget. Not sure it could get an iPad 2018.
 
D

Digitalguy

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Apr 15, 2019
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Nhwhazup said:
Definitely the 9.7 Pro is a gem. I finally upgraded this year but the 9.7 Pro is still going strong in my granddaughter’s hands.
Click to expand...
it is indeed, I still use mine (to replace pen and paper for one of my activities) and gave another one to my mother....
Probably the best lighting (regular sized) iPad around if you consider the screen issues on many 10.5 iPads and the non laminated screen (and lack of good speakers) on the others. If only it had more RAM it could still be great even today for general use and not just for more specific uses like media consumption or annotating etc..
 
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darngooddesign

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Jul 4, 2007
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Your choice is either the 11” Air or 11” Pro. FYI, the Air displays a little less than the Pro which is something you notice when looking at your library in Lightroom, but they are the same when it comes to Lightroom editing with the exception of the Pro being slightly faster. The Pro has noticeable better speakers so if you dont always hook it up to a BT speaker that is something you will notice with audio and video consumption.
 
turbineseaplane

turbineseaplane

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Mar 19, 2008
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I don’t know… I had nothing but problems with the 10.5” iPP

I went through four or five replacements through Apple and finally gave up and sold it

I’d be exceptionally hesitant about going 10.5” preowned.
 
UltimateSyn

UltimateSyn

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Not quite down to your desired budget, but Apple does have refurbished 10.5" iPad Pros in the U.S. right now for $379

Refurbished 10.5 inch iPad Pro Wi Fi 64GB Space Gray - Apple

Apple Store Search Results
www.apple.com

That, compared to the current base model iPad at $329, will get you:
  • P3 color gamut (vs. sRGB)
  • antireflective coating (vs. none)
  • fully laminated display (vs. not)
  • 120 Hz ProMotion (vs. 60Hz)
  • 600 nits full-screen brightness (vs. 500 nits)

There are other reliability concerns with that model (white spots mentioned above), but at least you will have the one-year warranty through Apple. The processor is five generations old now, but I'm sure it's still fast enough for the time being. I loved my 10.5" Pro.
 
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UltimateSyn

UltimateSyn

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jasonfodor said:
Website I found (socialcompare) says screen resolution and PPI hasn't changed in 5+ years, but I'm sure the dispays got better. Or should I not be using screen resolution/PPI to compare?
Click to expand...
To answer this question, here are the factors I can think of that differ across recent iPad models:
  • Size (7.9" - 12.9")
  • PPI (264 PPI or 326 PPI on all modern iPads)
  • Color gamut (sRGB, P3, etc.)
  • Antireflective coating (yes vs. no)
  • Refresh rate (60Hz vs. 120Hz)
  • Max brightness (500-1000 nits sustained)
  • Backlight technology (LED vs. mini-LED)
  • True Tone (yes vs. no)
 
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